Store fresh mushrooms properly and they will stay good for up to a week. This is easy.
Place whole, unwashed mushrooms in a brown paper bag and fold the top of the bag. Then place the bag in the main compartment of the refrigerator. This works, because the bag absorbs excess moisture from the mushrooms, so that they do not get wet or moldy.
Do not store mushrooms in the drawer of the refrigerator - the environment there is too humid.
Avoid placing mushrooms near foods with strong odors or aromas, because they will absorb them like a sponge.
Be careful not to place other foods over them. Stewed, injured mushrooms do not look very appetizing and will not remain edible for very long.
Some mushrooms do better in the refrigerator than others. To avoid wasting them, try to buy your mushrooms when you plan to use them.
If you need to store mushrooms for more than a week, consider freezing or drying them.
How to freeze mushrooms
Mushrooms freeze well, but it is best to take them out of the freezer as soon as possible. If you have a large amount of mushrooms, divide the mushrooms into two parts, one part - to eat immediately and the other part - to eat later. Try to be realistic about how much you will eat next week, so you can freeze the rest before the mushrooms spoil.
Mushrooms must be cooked before they are frozen. This will stop the enzymatic action, which preserves their quality, so it is important not to skip this step. For example, I freeze mushrooms after light blanching. Defrosting is not required when cooking frozen mushrooms. Add them directly into the pan and stir, until the water evaporates.
Storing mushrooms by drying
If you do not have much space to freeze mushrooms, in order to preserve them, drying them is another option. Dried mushrooms can be rehydrated as needed and meanwhile they take up very little space in the cupboard. Use a low temperature oven or dehydrator for drying fruit and vegetables. Then leave them in an airtight container, until you need them.
If you've never dried mushrooms before, try a small batch and see what you think. Once you learn how to restore them, you may find that they are as good as fresh mushrooms. If nothing else, it's great to have dried mushrooms on hand to toss in homemade mushroom soups or vegetable soups.
Canning mushrooms is also a good option for storing them, especially if you have large quantities.
